Don't leave your employer match on the table
Many employers add money to your 401(k) when you contribute. A common formula is 100 % of the first 3 % of your pay plus 50 % of the next 2 %. Contribute 5 % and your employer adds 4 %; contribute less and you give part of that up.
Enter your salary, how much you contribute and your plan's match formula. The calculator shows:
- Your contribution and your employer's match, per year and per paycheck.
- The smallest contribution that gets the full match.
- How the account could grow by retirement at the return you choose.
For 2026 you can defer up to $24,500 of your pay. At 50 or older you can add $8,000 more, and between 60 and 63 the extra rises to $11,250. Your contributions and your employer's together cannot exceed $72,000, not counting catch-up money.
Growth is an assumption, not a promise: markets go up and down, and fees reduce returns. Check your plan documents for the exact match formula and vesting schedule, which decides when the employer money is fully yours.